Central Banking
Eurochain: CBDC project seeks secure anonymity
Proof of concept blends anonymity with AML/CFT regulation
Monetary easing can boost birth rate, BoE paper finds
People had more children after rates were slashed post-crisis, researchers find
Bahamas rolls out first phase of CBDC pilot
Pilot will be rolled out to rest of country after June 2020, says governor Rolle, contingent on success of Exuma and Abaco case studies
Markets surge as PBoC cuts RRR
Cut designed to support the flagging economy; PBoC insists it is retaining “sound” policy
2020: fintech and beyond
At the turn of the decade, central bankers share their thoughts on financial technology – past, present and future
Macroeconomics is not broken
The discipline has moved beyond the neoclassical synthesis. Critics should too
Are we sleepwalking into a cashless society?
Cash could be crowded out of the payment landscape if current trends continue, but should central banks be responsible for ensuring its survival?
Yngve Slyngstad: contrarian person, brilliant investor
Knut Kjær reflects on the character of the man that has led Norway’s $1.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund and contemplates the complex governance challenges ahead
2019: The year in review
The past year was marked by a persistent weakening of the global economy, and some radical financial innovations
People: Ingves elected ESRB vice-chair
Appointments at ESRB and ECB; official resigns from the Central Bank of Colombia
Negative rates demonstrate shortcomings of currency
Many central banks have rates in negative territory. The distortionary effects of these policies raise broader questions on the design of money itself, writes Barry Topf
Schnabel and Panetta appointed ECB executive board members
The final distribution of responsibilities in January will determine the new members’ portfolios
Argentina lowers key rate floor
New governor aims to abandon ultra-tight financial conditions
Andrew Bailey to be next BoE governor
FCA chief will return to central bank after turbulent term at sister regulator
Manufacturing leverage weakens ECB monetary policy – BoI paper
Eurozone industrial firms’ response to policy shocks decreases as leverage rises, researchers find
Bank of Mexico cuts again as growth remains sluggish
Board says economic weakness is likely to persist
Network effects magnify impact of US monetary policy – BdF paper
Researchers find that impact of US monetary policy is increased by complex cross-border interactions
IMF sounds warning over global debt
Debt in both public and private sector may leave many countries at risk in next downturn, IMF says
Riksbank abandons negative rates
Swedish central bank increases repo rate by 25 basis points, but two board members dissent
Tighter regulation may be working – MIT economist
Kristin Forbes says banks may be more resilient but warns risk could be shifting to shadow sector
BoE holds rate, but two officials vote for cut
Policy-makers note gloomy backdrop and signs that the labour market is “loosening”
BoE probes press conference audio feed leak
FCA investigates alleged leak of backup feed to third parties before main broadcast
ECB warns Lithuanian government over bank tax plans
Plan to tax banks’ assets could harm financial stability, particularly for weaker lenders, ECB says
Central banks need to avoid dependence on markets, officials say
ECB and Fed officials reflect on relation between bond market expectations and their policy decisions, in farewell conference for Benoît Cœuré